Basic Info

Business Identifier: Developing and plans to bring to market energy crops such as switchgrass, miscanthus, energycane and poplar for biofuels

Public Profile: Ceres, Inc. is a privately-held plant biotechnology company utilizing cutting-edge genomics technologies to deliver sustainable solutions in energy production, agriculture, human health and nutrition. Ceres utilizes its proprietary genomics technologies including full-length cDNA sequencing, targeted gene activation, high-throughput screening platforms, and plant breeding with trait-linked marker-assisted breeding, to identify and deploy genes and traits required for the production of elite plant varieties and hybrids. Ceres is developing and plans to bring to market energy crops such as switchgrass, miscanthus, energycane and poplar for biofuels. Since 2002, Ceres has also been deploying its traits and technologies in certain agricultural crops as part of a multi-year, $137 million license-based agreement with Monsanto. Plants and plant products form the basis of several multi-billion dollar industries. First introduced in 1995, the global commercial value of biotech crops grown in the 2003-2004 season was reported at $44 billion with only a fraction of the opportunity having been realized. Since 1996, approximately 1 billion acres of genetically enhanced crops have been planted worldwide. Farmers and consumers alike are benefiting from the dramatically reduced levels of chemical pesticides, decreased soil erosion, lower levels of food toxins and increased yields that are enabled by biotechnology enhanced crops. Plants are ideally suited to meet a wide variety of pressing global needs because they are a non-polluting, renewable resource with the ability to sequester carbon dioxide. These include: * providing a large-scale, sustainable, carbon-neutral source of transportation fuels * providing more and better food for a growing world population, on fewer acres, and with less environmental impact * providing a renewable source of feedstocks for the chemicals industry at economically justifiable costs * discovering new pharmaceuticals that address unmet medical needs * producing more fiber and more timber on fewer acres and with less environmental impact Ceres is dedicated to pursuing the development of innovative and proprietary energy crops as feedstocks for biofuels. Increasing global fossil fuel demand, rising fuel costs, political instability, and environmental concerns have paved the way for the emergence of new innovations that have the potential to significantly reduce demand for petroleum-based fuel. We believe that biofuels are a sustainable and economically viable solution for this urgent need. Ceres is well positioned to lead in the development of cellulosic biomass for biofuels through breeding and genomics technologies. These technologies can significantly boost the yields and usable acreage for growing energy crops while minimizing energy inputs such that biomass derived energy could make up a significant portion of U.S. transportation fuel supply. Ceres is also applying its proprietary plant genomic knowledge to a number of opportunities in the creation of enhanced plants and plant-based products through license-based collaborations.